Life Hack: What to do if you get covid in 2025 — testing, isolating and more

How long do we need to stay at home and avoid contact with others after a positive test?

I experienced the strangest bout of deja vu two weeks ago. I heard of one or two people testing positive for covid in recent weeks but didn’t think too much of it until a sore throat one morning caught me off guard.

I’m rarely sick so alarm bells went off in my mind. I reached into the cupboard for an antigen test (remember those?) and followed the usual steps.

I had recently picked up a new box of them, a visit to a post-op family member last month inspiring the ‘just in case’ purchase.

I popped a few drops of the sample onto it, turned on the kettle for tea, and glanced back at the test.

My jaw hit the floor: two thick lines looked back at me, visible before the same had finished being absorbed. I had covid.

I rang around to let friends, family, and coworkers know. I had been in the office the previous day and had met with friends at the weekend. All had the same question: what are the guidelines now?

What are the covid guidelines for 2025?

With so much confusion, I turned to the HSE for its advice on how long we need to stay at home and avoid contact with others after a positive test or covid symptoms.

“If you have any symptoms of covid-19, even mild ones, stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone,” a spokesperson told me.

“You should also avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk of severe covid-19.”

What about going back to work or school?

If you’re eager to return to a workplace or school environment after getting covid, the advice is similar.

According to the HSE, adults should only return to work when it has been 48 hours without any symptoms of covid. If you have a positive covid-19 test, you must wait for five days and also feel well.

Children can return to school when they feel well and no longer have a high temperature. If they had a positive test, they should stay home and avoid contact with others for three full days after they took the test or from the day their symptoms started — whichever was earliest.

Avoid trying to push through if you are still feeling unwell, only go back to work or school when you feel ready.

How to avoid getting or spreading it?

If you’re worried about contracting covid, there are some steps you can take.

The spokesperson for the HSE points out that most of us will have mild symptoms, but those with weaker immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness.

“As we approach the autumn/winter, we see rises in certain infections, including seasonal respiratory viruses and winter vomiting virus (norovirus),” the spokesperson said.

“While for many, such illnesses are unpleasant but relatively mild, for some people, especially the very young or those who are older, and some with underlying medical conditions, these infections can be very serious.

“To protect ourselves, those vulnerable adults and children in our lives, and to support our health and care services, it is really important that we do everything we can to reduce the risk of spread of infection.”

They suggest ensuring you get the covid-19 and flu vaccines during the autumn/winter period if you are eligible to reduce your risk of contracting either virus.

Other things we can all do is to stay away from work, care homes, hospitals and from very young or older people if you have flu-like symptoms or symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea, for at least until 48 hours after you are symptom-free.

The spokesperson added: “Wash your hands regularly with soap and water to keep them clean and follow good respiratory hygiene- cover your nose and mouth if coughing or sneezing, ideally with a disposable tissue, and bin it afterwards.

“With these simple but highly effective measures, we can make sure everyone can enjoy the holiday period safely.”